Rotary steam engine

ABSTRACT

A rotary steam engine comprising a housing including at least first and second power units mounted therein. Each of power units include a pair of cylinders in communication with each other and having two rotors rotatably mounted therein. The rotors have peripheral gear teeth extending therefrom which are in mesh with the gear teeth of the other rotor. A rotary valve is centrally positioned in the housing with respect to the rotors and is adapted to successively supply steam to the power units to cause the rotation of the rotors therein. Each of the rotors have a drive shaft connected thereto which extend outwardly of the housing. A gear is mounted on the outer ends of each of the drive shafts. The gears on the drive shafts of the first power unit are in mesh with each other with the gears on the rotors of the second power unit also being in mesh with each other. The rotary valve has a drive shaft connected thereto which extends outwardly from the housing with a drive gear being secured to the outer end of the drive shaft. The drive gear is in operative engagement with one of the gears of the first power unit and in operative engagement with a gear of the second power unit. Rotation of the rotors causes the rotary valve to be rotated so as to admit and cut off the steam supply to the rotors at the proper times. The rotary valve is provided with a steam discharge opening which has an increasing opening area from one end thereof to the other end thereof to permit the rotary valve to be longitudinally moved with respect to oppositely disposed steam passageways to permit the amount of steam passing therethrough to be varied.

United States Patent Oluf F. Jensen [72] Inventor 929-6th Ave., Council Bluffs, Iowa 51501 [211 App]. No. 026,985 [22] Filed Apr. 9, 1970 [45] Patented May 18, 1971 [54] ROTARY STEAM ENGINE 3 Claims,'7 Drawing Figs. [52] US. Cl 418/199, 417/298, 418/206 [51] Int. Cl.., ..F01c 11/0 F04c 1 H00, F04b 49/00 [50] Field of Search 418/191, 199, 205, 206, 209, (Inquired); 91/75, 81, 87, 89 [56] 1 References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 562,843 6/1896 Morse 91/87 728,263 5/1903 Masterman et al. 418/205 2,386,318 10/1945 Jensen' 418/206 2,918,907 12/1959 l-lausmann 418/199 FOREIGN PATENTS 607,236 8/1960 Italy 418/165 Primary Examiner-Carlton R. Croyle Assistant Examiner-John J. Vrablik Attorney-Zarley, McKee & Thomte ABSTRACT: A rotary steam engine comprising a housing including at least first and second power units mounted therein. Each of power units include a pair of cylinders in communication with each other and having two rotors rotatably mounted therein. The rotors have peripheral gear teeth extending therefrom which are in mesh with the gear teeth of the other rotor. A rotary valve is centrally positioned in the housing with respect to the rotors and is adapted to successively supply steam to the power units to cause the rotation of the rotors therein. Each of the rotors have a drive shaft connected thereto which extend outwardly of the housing. A gear is mounted on the outer ends of each of the drive shafts. The gears on the drive shafts of the first power unit are in mesh with each other with the gears on the rotors of the second power unit also being in mesh with each other. The rotary valve has a drive shaft connected thereto which extends outwardly from the housing with a drive gear being secured to the outer end of the drive shaft. The drive gear is in operative engagement with one of the gears of the first power unit and in operative engagement with a gear of the second power unit.

Rotation of the rotors causes the rotary valve to be rotated so as to admit and cut off the steam supply to'the rotors at the proper times. The rotary valve is provided with a steam discharge opening which has an increasing opening area from one end thereof to the other end thereof to permit the rotary valve to be longitudinally moved with respect to oppositely disposed steam passageways to permit the amount of steam passing therethrough to be variedv ROTARY STEAM ENGINE The principal object of this invention is to provide an improved steam engine.

A further object of this invention is to provide a rotary steam engine having means thereon which conserves the steam pressure.

A further object of this invention is to provide a rotary steam engine having a rotary valve therein which permits the volume of steam being introduced therein to be precisely controlled.

A further object of this invention is to provide a rotary steam engine wherein the rotors thereof are connected by means of gears which in turn are connected to the rotary valve thereof.

A further object of this invention is to provide a rotary steam engine which is compact, economical to manufacture and operate, durable in use and refined in appearance.

These and other objects will be apparent to those skilled in the art.

This invention consists in the construction, arrangements and combination of the various parts of the device, whereby the objects contemplated are attained as hereinafter more fully set forth, specifically pointed out in the claims, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. l is a transverse sectional view of the steam engine of this invention.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the steam engine as viewed along line 2-2 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view as seen along line 3-3 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a partial sectional view as seen along line 4-4 of FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is an elevational view of the rotary valve sleeve illustrating the rotary valve in one position with respect thereto.

FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 5 except that the rotary valve has been moved to a second position.

FIG. 7 is an exploded partial perspective view of the rotary valve and its sleeve.

The numeral 10 generally designates the rotary steam engine of this invention comprising generally a housing 12 and power units 14 and 16 each of which employ a pair of rotors. Housing 12 is provided with a central bore I8 which extends from its rearward end 20 to its forward end 22. Sleeve 24 is rigidly received in bore 18 and is provided with a steam inlet port 26 adjacent its upper rearward end which is in communication with a bore 28 formed in housing 12. Bore 28 is in communication with a conduit 30 which extends to a source of steam pressure. Sleeve 24 is also provided with opposing steam outlet ports 32 and 34 formed therein intermediate its length as illustrated in FIG. 7. Ports 32 and 34 are in communication with bores 36 and 38 respectively formed in housing I2.

As seen in FIG. 2, the opposite ends of bore 18 are closed by caps 40 and 42 which are secured to housing 12 by screws 44. A rotary steam valve 46 is rotatably mounted in sleeve 24 and is also longitudinally movable with respect thereto, Valve 46 has a steam discharge opening 48 formed therein having an increasing opening area from its rearward end 50 to its forward end 52. Opening 48 is adapted to selectively and alternately register with ports 32 and 34 as valve 46 is rotated. Rod 54 is rotatably connected at its inner end to the rearward end of valve 46 and slidably extends outwardly through cap 40. Rod 54 is preferably connected to a governor or the like which does not form a part of this invention. The slidable movement of rod 54 by the governor causes valve 46 to be slidably moved in sleeve 24. Rod 54 may also be manually moved to change the relationship of valve 46 with respect to sleeve 24.

Plate 56 is slidably received in grooves 58 and 60 formed in the interior wall surface of valve 46 so that rotation of plate 56 will cause the rotation of valve 46. Plate 56 has a drive shaft 62 which rotatably extends outwardly through cap 42. The outer end of shaft 62 has a wheel 64 or the like secured which may be operatively connected by any means to a means requiring rotational power. If desired, wheel 64 could be replaced by a gear or the like. Shaft 62 also has a gear 66 mounted thereon for rotation therewith inwardly of wheel 64.

Power unit 14 includes a pair of rotors 68 and 70 rotatably mounted in cylinders 72 and 74 respectively. Rotors 68 and 70 are mounted on shafts 76 and 78 respectively which are suitably joumaled in housing 12. Rotor 68 is provided with a plurality of longitudinally extending gear teeth 80 on its periphery which are adapted to mesh with the longitudinally extending gear teeth 82 provided on the periphery of rotor 70. Rotor 68 has a vane 84 extending radially therefrom which extends from one end of the rotor to the other end thereof. Rotor 68 is provided with a longitudinally extending recessed area 86 formed therein behind the vane adapted to receive vane 88 of rotor 70. Rotor 70 includes a recessed area 90 formed therein adapted to receive the vane 84 of rotor 68.

Power unit 16 is identical to power unit 14 and will not be described in detail. Power unit 16 includes rotors 92 and 94 mounted on shafts 96 and 98 respectively. Rotor 92 includes longitudinally extending gear teeth 100 adapted to mesh with the gear teeth 102 on rotor 94. Rotor 92 also includes a vane I04 and recessed area 106 with rotor 94 including a vane 108 and recessed area 110. As seen in FIG. 1, the rotor vanes wipe upon the cylinder wall surface to prevent the escape of steam thereby. Power unit 14 has a steam exhaust port 112 formed therein while power unit 16 has a steam exhaust port 114 formed therein.

The outer ends of shafts 76 and 78 have gears 116 and 118 mounted thereon which are in mesh with each other. Shafts 96 and 98 have gears 120 and 122 mounted on their outer ends which are in mesh with each other. The outer end of shaft 78 v has a gear 124 mounted thereon outwardly of gear 118 which is in mesh with gear 66 on shaft 62. Shaft 96 has a gear 126 mounted on its outer end outwardly of gear which meshes with gear 66 on shaft 62.

The normal method of operation is as follows. Steam is allowed to flow through conduit 30 and into bore 28. The steam enters the interior of sleeve 24 by means of inlet port 26. Steam enters the interior of valve 46 through the rearward end thereof to permit the steam to be passed outwardly through opening 48. Initially, rod 54 is moved outwardly with respect to sleeve 24 (FIG. 6) so that the substantial length of opening 48 will successively register with openings 32 and 34 in sleeve 24. The position of FIG. 6 allows a large volume of steam to successively pass through the openings 32 and 34 to supply the large volume of steam ordinarily needed to start the engine. The steam passes outwardly from opening 34 and outwardly through bore 38. The forward end 52 of port 48 must extend halfway around the rotor to insure starting at all times. When opening 48 registers with openings 34, the steam pressure behind the vanes 84 and 88 causes the rotors 68 and 70 to be rotated in the direction indicated in FIG. 1. The steam is maintained behind the vanes by the meshing of the gear teeth on the rotors. The expansion of the steam behind the vanes causes the rotors 68 and 70 to be rotated which causes the gears 116 and 118 to also be rotated. The rotation of shaft 78 causes gear 124 to rotate gear 66 which causes the rotation of valve 46 in sleeve. Thus, the rotation of valve 46 causes opening 48 to successively register with openings 32 and 34 so that steam is successively furnished to the rotors in the power units 14 and 16. Rotation of rotors 92 and 94 causes the gears 120 and 122 to also be rotated. The rotation of gear 120 causes a gear 126 to be rotated which is in mesh with gear 66. Thus, rotors 68 and 70 rotate together with rotors 92 and 94 being rotated together. Gears I16, 118, I24, 66, 126, 120 and 122 join the two units together as a single mechanical unit.

The fact that rotary valve 46 is centrally located permits the valve to admit and cutoff the steam supply to the power units l4 and 16 at the proper time. Further, the fact that shaft 62 operatively receives all of the rotational power generated by the engine permits an efi'rcient engine operation.

The speed of the engine can be precisely controlled by the slidable movement of rod 54 either by manual operation or by a suitable governor means. When rod 54 is moved inwardly with respect to sleeve 24, a smaller portion of the opening 48 successively registers with the openings 32 and 34 (FIG. 5) so that a smaller volume of steam is passed through the openings 32 and 34. It should be noted that the steam is exhausted from the power units 14 and 16 by means of the ports 112 and 114 after the vanes have moved thereby.

It can therefore be seen that an extremely simple but efficient steam engine has been provided which conserves the steam energy supplied thereto and which pennits precise control of the steam being supplied thereto. Thus, the invention accomplishes at least all of its stated objectives.

1 claim:

1. In a rotary steam engine, comprising,

a housing,

at least first and second power units in said housing,

said first power unit including first and second cylinders formed therein which are in communication with each other along their lengths,

a first rotor rotatably mounted in said first cylinder and having a first shaft connected thereto extending outwardly from said first cylinder and said housing, said first shaft having a first gear mounted on its outer end,

a second rotor rotatably mounted in said second cylinder and having a second shaft connected thereto extending outwardly from said second cylinder and said housing, said second shaft having a second gear mounted on its outer end,

said first and second gears being in mesh,

said first and second rotors each having drive vanes extending radially outwardly from the peripheries thereof adapted to sealably engage the wall surfaces of said first and second cylinders,

said first and second rotors each having longitudinally extending peripheral gear teeth which mesh with each other to prevent the escape of steam between said first and second rotors,

said second power unit including third and fourth cylinders formed therein which are in communication with each other along their lengths,

a third rotor rotatably mounted in said third cylinder and having a third shaft connected thereto extending outwardly from said third cylinder and said housing, said third shaft having a third gear mounted on its outer end,

a fourth rotor rotatably mounted in said fourth cylinder and having a fourth shaft connected thereto extending outwardly from said fourth cylinder and said housing, said fourth shaft having a fourth gear mounted on its outer end,

said third an fourth gears being in mesh,

said third and fourth rotors each having drive vanes extending radially outwardly from the peripheries thereof adapted to sealably engage the wall surfaces of said third and fourth cylinders,

said third and fourth rotors each having longitudinally extending peripheral gear teeth which mesh with each other to prevent the escape of steam between said third and fourth rotors,

a rotary steam valve rotatably mounted in said housing,

between said first and second power units and being centrally positioned with respect to said rotors,

said housing having a first steam passageway formed therein in communication with said first and second cylinders,

said housing having a second steam passageway formed therein in communication with said third and fourth cylinders,

said first and second steam passageways being disposed on opposite sides of said valve,

said rotary valve being in communication with a source of steam pressure and having a steam discharge opening formed therein adapted to successively register with said first and second steam passageways to permit the steam to pass therethrough and to engage the rotor vanes to cause the rotation of the rotors, said rotary valve having a centrally disposed shaft secured thereto extending outwardly from said housing, a drive gear on said centrally disposed shaft being operatively connected with one of said first and second shafts and in operative connection with one of said third and fourth shafts,

said centrally disposed shaft being adapted to be connected to a means requiring rotational power.

2. The engine of claim 1 wherein a sleeve embraces said rotary valve, said sleeve having first and second longitudinal openings formed therein which communicate with said first and second steam passageways, said steam discharge opening in said rotary valve having an increasing opening area from one end thereof to its other end, said rotary valve being longitudinally movable with respect to said sleeve so that the volume of steam passing through said discharge opening into said first and second longitudinal opening may be controlled by the longitudinal movement of said rotary valve.

3. The engine of claim 2 wherein a fifth gear is secured to said second shaft outwardly of said second gear, a sixth gear being secured to said third shaft outwardly of said third gear, said drive gear being in mesh with said fifth and sixth gears. 

1. In a rotary steam engine, comprising, a housing, at least first and second power units in said housing, said first power unit including first and second cylinders formed therein which are in communication with each other along their lengths, a first rotor rotatably mounted in said first cylinder and having a first shaft connected thereto extending outwardly from said first cylinder and said housing, said first shaft having a first gear mounted on its outer end, a second rotor rotatably mounted in said second cylinder and having a second shaft connected thereto extending outwardly from said second cylinder and said housing, said second shaft having a second gear mounted on its outer end, said first and second gears being in mesh, said first and second rotors each having drive vanes extendiNg radially outwardly from the peripheries thereof adapted to sealably engage the wall surfaces of said first and second cylinders, said first and second rotors each having longitudinally extending peripheral gear teeth which mesh with each other to prevent the escape of steam between said first and second rotors, said second power unit including third and fourth cylinders formed therein which are in communication with each other along their lengths, a third rotor rotatably mounted in said third cylinder and having a third shaft connected thereto extending outwardly from said third cylinder and said housing, said third shaft having a third gear mounted on its outer end, a fourth rotor rotatably mounted in said fourth cylinder and having a fourth shaft connected thereto extending outwardly from said fourth cylinder and said housing, said fourth shaft having a fourth gear mounted on its outer end, said third an fourth gears being in mesh, said third and fourth rotors each having drive vanes extending radially outwardly from the peripheries thereof adapted to sealably engage the wall surfaces of said third and fourth cylinders, said third and fourth rotors each having longitudinally extending peripheral gear teeth which mesh with each other to prevent the escape of steam between said third and fourth rotors, a rotary steam valve rotatably mounted in said housing, between said first and second power units and being centrally positioned with respect to said rotors, said housing having a first steam passageway formed therein in communication with said first and second cylinders, said housing having a second steam passageway formed therein in communication with said third and fourth cylinders, said first and second steam passageways being disposed on opposite sides of said valve, said rotary valve being in communication with a source of steam pressure and having a steam discharge opening formed therein adapted to successively register with said first and second steam passageways to permit the steam to pass therethrough and to engage the rotor vanes to cause the rotation of the rotors, said rotary valve having a centrally disposed shaft secured thereto extending outwardly from said housing, a drive gear on said centrally disposed shaft being operatively connected with one of said first and second shafts and in operative connection with one of said third and fourth shafts, said centrally disposed shaft being adapted to be connected to a means requiring rotational power.
 2. The engine of claim 1 wherein a sleeve embraces said rotary valve, said sleeve having first and second longitudinal openings formed therein which communicate with said first and second steam passageways, said steam discharge opening in said rotary valve having an increasing opening area from one end thereof to its other end, said rotary valve being longitudinally movable with respect to said sleeve so that the volume of steam passing through said discharge opening into said first and second longitudinal opening may be controlled by the longitudinal movement of said rotary valve.
 3. The engine of claim 2 wherein a fifth gear is secured to said second shaft outwardly of said second gear, a sixth gear being secured to said third shaft outwardly of said third gear, said drive gear being in mesh with said fifth and sixth gears. 